St. Ambrose group helps agency collect mobility devices

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By Jody Ferres | Friday, October 20, 2006 11:56 PM CDT | () comments

Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES St. Ambrose University faculty members John Barr and Lynn Frank sort through donations Friday for Iowa Wheels for the World at the Rogalski Center on the Davenport campus.

Grandma’s old wheelchair collecting dust and Uncle John’s old cane in the basement may not be much of anything but an eyesore you keep saying needs to be cleaned up.

But to thousands of people around the world, those mobility devices are the difference between crawling on hands and knees and moving independently.

The St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy Department is teaming up with All Iowa Wheels for the World to collect as many wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches and running strollers to help make mobility and independence a reality.

Through 5 p.m. today, anyone may drop off any of the items at the St. Ambrose Rogalski Center. Students are hoping the large semitrailer parked in the front of the building will be full by the end of their two-day drive.

Wheels for the World, a non-profit organization, collects, restores and redistributes mobility equipment to persons with disabilities in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, between 20-30 million wheelchairs are needed around the world.

Jill Badrick, a first-year physical therapy student from Miles, Iowa, said a video many of the students watched really hit home.

“The video showed the people crawling on their hands and knees, not being able to go anywhere at all,” said Badrick, who was helping man the donation booth at the Rogalski Center on Friday afternoon. “The wheelchairs give a person independence and allow them an opportunity to improve all aspects of their life.”

This is the second time St. Ambrose has helped Wheels for the World. In spring 2004, about 30 chairs were donated.

Patsy Lawton, coordinator for All Iowa Wheels for the World Drive, said places like St. Ambrose are the reason a program of this magnitude can make it.

“We have 17 dropoff sites across the state of Iowa,” said Lawton. “Iowa has done this in 1999, 2004 and this weekend.”

The program started through Join and Friends, a Christian organization serving people and families affected by disability. Since the inception of the worldwide event, about 35,000 wheelchairs have been given to people in developing countries.

After collection, the chairs, canes and other metal items are shipped to prisons, where the inmates donate their time to restoring each into working order. From the time of collection, restoration, and shipping to the particular country, a $150 price tag accompanies each chair. When chairs are hand-delivered, a Bible in the country’s native language is given with the chair.

St. Ambrose is just glad to do what they can.

Dr. John Barr, professor of physical therapy at the university, believes the opportunity is important.

“As health-care professionals, our goal is to help people in need,” he said. “Wheels for the World provides an opportunity for our students to make a difference in the lives of people around the world, and is keeping with the SAU tradition of reaching out to others.”

Although donations were sparse Friday, student Laura Arp of Davenport said she is optimistic the Quad-Cities will come through with donations.

“Some of those people have never walked before,” said Arp, who volunteered her time waiting for donations. “You can really see a difference you’re making in people’s lives.”

Donations will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Rogalski Center at the corner of Ripley and Lombard streets. All donations are tax deductible.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.